Alberto Contador to ride the Majorca International
Spanish cycling sensation, Alberto Contador, has shown interest to ride the Majorca International, starting on Sunday, 4th of February. The cyclist had a terrific start to his 2012 campaign at the Tour de San Luis.
Team Saxo Bank rider finished second at the Argentinean race and also secured two stages during the contest.
American cyclist, Levi Leipheimer, won the race with Contador, Daniel Diaz, Stefan Schumacher and Vincenzo Nibali claiming the next four spots.
Contador’s biggest concern at the moment is the CAS decision that is expected after the 5th of February, 2012.
He was tested positive for clenbuterol during the Tour de France 2010 and the final verdict is expected on Monday.
Alberto was immediately suspended by the Royal Spanish Cycling Federation, but the federation later on accepted an appeal from the cyclist and lifted the ban.
Both UCI and WADA launched a petition against the Spanish Cycling Federation’s decision in March, 2011.
The Spaniard was free to race until the final ruling on his case is made. The initial date for the CAS hearing was scheduled in June but it was delayed until August after Contador’s legal team requested an extension.
It was further extended from August 2011 to November 2011 and was finally pushed to the start of January 2012.
The final decision is now expected in the first week of February, which will decide Contador’s fate.
CAS briefed in a recent statement that it "intends to publish its decision in the arbitration procedure involving the International Cycling Union (UCI), the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Alberto Contador and the Spanish Cycling Federation (RFEC) on Monday,
6 February, 2012”.
It was also stated, "A confirmation as to the date and time of the publication of the decision will be given by the CAS at the end of this week".
There are rumours in the Spanish media that if the decision is made against Contador, he might face a two-year ban from professional cycling. The ban will prevent him from riding the Tour de France 2012.
However, Alberto will still be eligible to ride the Vuelta a Espana 2012 even if he faces the suspension. The cyclist will also be stripped off from his overall victory at the 2010 Tour de France.
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